Metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation and structure using the same

Abstract

A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation and a vehicle accessory installation structure using the metal clip, capable of improving a yield ratio of a metal plate required to form the metal clip and capable of reliably performing temporary fixation of accessories to an interior member. A metal clip ( 10 ) for vehicle accessory fixation has first V-shaped tabs ( 33 ) that are bent into a substantially V shape as seen from a side, an end edge of each of which V-shaped tabs ( 33 ) is an installation section ( 34 ) for engaging with a base section ( 12 ) of an accessory, and in which an engagement section ( 36 a ) for engagement with an installation hole of a vehicle panel is provided in the middle of each tab; an extension section ( 37 ) extended in a folding line ( 32 ) direction from a valley bottom section ( 31 ) of the first V-shaped tabs ( 33 ); and second V-shaped tabs ( 38 ) that extend from both sides of the extension section ( 37 ) in the direction crossing the extension section ( 37 ), each of which second V-shaped tabs ( 38 ) is bent in a V shape with an extension section ( 37 ) as the valley bottom section ( 31 ), and whose end sections ( 38 a ) engage with holes ( 51 ) of an interior member ( 50 ) to temporarily fix the accessory.

1. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation to be mounted to a base section of a vehicle accessory and inserted into a hole of an interior member to thereby effect temporary fixation of the accessory to the interior member, and to be inserted, in this state, into an installation hole of a vehicle panel and thereby effect final fixation of the accessory to the vehicle panel, the metal clip comprising:
 a first V-shaped tab having flaps bent into a substantially V-shape as seen from a side, the first V-shaped tab including an installation section to engage with the base section of the accessory, wherein the installation section is formed at an ending edge of each flap of the first V-shaped tab and including an engagement section to engage with the installation hole of the vehicle panel, wherein the engagement section is provided at a halfway portion of each flap of the first V-shaped tab; 
 an extension section having sides extending in a direction along a folding line from a valley bottom section of the first V-shaped tab; and 
 a second V-shaped tab extending from both sides of the extension section in directions crossing the extension section and bent into a V-shape with the extension section as a valley bottom section, the second V-shaped tab including end sections thereof to engage with the hole of the interior member and thereby effect temporary fixation of the accessory. 
 
   
   
     2. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation according to  claim 1 , wherein each flap of the first V-shaped tab is connected to the extension section with the width of each flap reduced. 
   
   
     3. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a bending angle of the valley bottom section of the second V-shaped tab is smaller than a bending angle of the valley bottom section of the first V-shaped tab; and 
 whereby, when the second V-shaped tab is deflected so that the extension section bends, the second V-shaped tab enters an inner side of the first V-shaped tab. 
 
   
   
     4. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second V-shaped tab crosses the extension section and is formed to extend obliquely away from the first V-shaped tab. 
 
   
   
     5. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second V-shaped tab is formed curvedly so that the second V-shaped tab is largely inclined with respect to a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the extension section as the second V-shaped tab extends away from the extension section. 
 
   
   
     6. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 ,
 wherein the end sections of the second V-shaped tab are provided to abut an inner peripheral portion of the installation hole of the vehicle panel while the first V-shaped tab engages with the installation hole of the vehicle panel. 
 
   
   
     7. A metal clip for vehicle accessory fixation according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the end sections of the second V-shaped tab protrude in a direction away from the first V-shaped tab. 
 
   
   
     8. A vehicle accessory installation structure, the structure comprising:
 a vehicle panel including an installation hole; 
 an interior member including a hole to align with the installation hole; 
 a vehicle accessory to be fixed to the vehicle panel through the intermediation of the interior member; and 
 a metal clip to be engaged with a base section of the vehicle accessory and inserted into the hole of the interior member and the installation hole of the vehicle panel and to thereby effect fixation of the vehicle accessory, 
 the metal clip comprising: 
 a first V-shaped tab having flaps bent into a substantially V-shape as seen from a side, the first V-shaped tab including an installation section to engage with the base section of the accessory, wherein the installation section is formed at an ending edge of each flap of the first V-shaped tab and including an engagement section to engage with the installation hole of the vehicle panel, wherein the engagement section is provided at a halfway portion of each flap of the first V-shaped tab; 
 an extension section having sides extending in a direction along a folding line from a valley bottom section of the first V-shaped tab; and 
 a second V-shaped tab extending from both sides of the extension section in directions crossing the extension section and bent into a V-shape with the extension section as a valley bottom section, the second V-shaped tab including end sections thereof to engage with the hole of the interior member and thereby effect temporary fixation of the accessory, 
 wherein, once the first V-shaped tab and the second V-shaped tab are inserted into the hole of the interior member while the installation section of the metal clip engages the base section of the vehicle accessory to thereby temporarily fix the metal clip to the interior member, the first V-shaped tab and the second V-shaped tab are inserted into the installation hole of the vehicle panel such that the engagement section of the first V-shaped tab engages with the installation hole to thereby fix the vehicle accessory to the vehicle panel through the intermediation of the interior member.